The 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival starts on 15th August 2025
One of the world’s most prestigious chess festivals is back with its 31st edition! The crown jewel of the festival, Abu Dhabi Masters, is all set to take place from 15th to 24th August 2025 in Abu Dhabi. With a total prize fund of USD 55,500, the event promises to be a great thrill for players as well as fans. The festival will feature 17 different exciting tournaments to offer an opportunity for players of all levels. Like every year, the stakes are high, with USD 15,000 reserved for the winner of the Masters event! Scroll down to explore what’s in store at this chess festival! Photo: Abu Dhabi Chess Festival
The 31st edition of one of the strongest Chess tournaments in the World
The 1st edition of the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival took place back in 1991. Emirati International Master Saeed Ahmed Saeed (2435) was the Champion of the first edition! 30 more editions of this prestigious tournament have taken place since then.
A total of 17 different chess events will take place as part of the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival 2025, scheduled from 15th to 24th August. The major attraction, as always, is the Masters tournament, because of its incredibly strong field. Many players from around the world have already confirmed their participation in this year’s event. In the Master's section, Parham Maghsoodloo is currently the highest-rated player on the list.
Venue
The official hotel for the festival will be Radisson Blu Abu Dhabi Corniche Hotel. All tournament games will take place within the hotel itself, so the players don't need to travel between the accommodation and the playing venue. Participants also have the option to stay at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, where rooms will be available at discounted rates
Various events, Prize money, and Eligibility:
There are a total of 17 events taking place across the span of the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, from 15th to 24th August. Here's a brief description of the events:
There is a special online event planned as well - the Abu Dhabi Masters Online on 18th August! There is an attractive prize fund of USD 10,000, open to all titled players. Check out the image below for detailed information on the Online events and the Blitz arena for all players.
There is one rest day for the Masters event after the 7th round. Here's the schedule of the entire proceedings:
Following are the details of the Prize money structure spread across the 17 events to be held throughout the festival. All the prize money amounts are in US Dollars.
How to register for the tournament?
The tournament registrations will be closed on 15th July 2025. You can go and register for the tournament at this link. Here's what the tournament registration page looks like:
There are various entry fees for various events. Check out all the details regarding entry fees and registration below:
